For many people, time seems to “get away” from us while we’re speaking. Toastmasters can help that from happening! Since Ralph C. Smedley founded Toastmasters in 1924, meeting segments and roles have been timed. Smedley’s reasoning was that speakers needed to be held accountable to stay on time. That sentiment was eventually put to use for all speaking roles in a Toastmaster’s meeting. It helps us get all of our crowded agenda in to that short hour between 12 Noon and 1 PM! Before a meeting starts, the Timer should get together with the General Evaluator to confirm the times of the speeches – most are 5-7 minutes long, but there are several exceptions (the Ice Breaker speech is 4-6 minutes, and most of the Advanced Communication Manuals include speeches with vastly differing lengths). And the Timer’s Report should include the target time for each speaker as well as the actual time.
By Jason Kent, VP Education
No comments:
Post a Comment